Control apparatus and system



Sept. 9 1924.

v 1,508,236 H. n. MURDQCK' CONTROL APPARATUS AND 515T" Filed Feb. 19. 1921 WIT SS INVENTOR ml fif 'ATroRNEY Patented se ta, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENBY-D. MURlDOCK, OF WILKINSBUR G, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG'NOR. TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IA.

I CONTROL APPARATUS AND SYSTEM.

Application filed February 19,1921 Serial No. 446,887.

ratus and it has particular relation to controllers employed in motor-control systems of relatively high voltage.

The object of my invention is to provide means for ensuring the'opening of a circuitbreaker of a control system prior to the opening of accelerating contactors thereof.

Heretofore, there have been devices and control systems which attempted to provide for the opening of a circuit-breaker of a controlsystem prior to the opening of the accelerating contactors thereof; but such systems and apparatus have not been suflicie-ntly positive and reliable in operation to always ensure the opening of the circuitbreaker prior to the opening of contactors. It is highly desirable that a circuit-breaker open before the other switchesof a control system to prevent arcing and pitting of the switches. It is even more desirable that controllers and control systems be designed for opening a circuit-breaker before opening other switches, where a control system is employed for governing the operation of street cars and other motor vehicles. This is necessary toprevent explosions occurring within the controller, thereby frightening the passengers. In more modern control systems, the circuit-breaker has been removed to some part of the car which is remote from the platforms.

Briefly speaking, my'invention consists in providing a switching device within a controller that prevents the controller from being actuated toward its off position until a circuit-breaker has been opened.

For a better understanding of my invention, referenceshould be made to the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 of which is a view, in side eleo vation, of a controller, a portion of a cover for the controller being omitted to show a projection switching device embodying In invention and mounted within the control er;

Fig. 2 is a combined lan view of the switching device that is ilustrated in Fig. 1 and a diagrammatic view of a portion of a control system in which it is employed, the switching device being shown in its closed position.

Referring particularly to .Fig. 1, a controller 1 has a cover 2 and a drum 3, mounted within the cover 2, upon which a plurality of switching members of a familiar type (not shown) are mounted. The drum 3 is actuated by a controller handle 4, which is limited in its circular movement by the stop 5. A shaft 6 forming part of the drum?) is positioned by a bracket 7 and a supporting member 8 of substantially L- shape. A switching device 9 embodying my invention is positionedby the supporting member 8 between the drum 3 and the car floor 11.

Referring to Fig. 2, the switching device 9 that is shown in Fig. 1 is illustrated in a fully operative position for controlling the operation of a. circuit-breaker 12 which governs the energization of a control system. only a portion of which is shown.

The switching device 9 comprises a ratchet member or wheel 13 which is rigidly secured to the drum shaft 6, a movable arm. 14 which is pivotally mounted upon the supporting member 8 by means of a bolt 15, an electromagnet device 16, a contact member 17 which is pivotally mounted upon the movable arm 14, and a lever member 18.

her 8. The arm 14 serves as the armature member.

A latching device is provided in my apparatus and comprises a latching member 18 which is pivotally mounted upon the L- shaped member by means of a bolt 22. The latching member 18 is provided with a .23 that engages a pin 24 which 81 3". I A set-screworadjusting member 35 is ro-,-

ing memberlS isprovided with a .pawlmen -i ber 26 which ispiv'otally mountedQuponthe;

end thereof by embe 26 ispi v d dwi h a p ojec io chiw it g gthe atc ing mber;

when" the member 26' isrotated in a "cou'ii- .b er. 32. will remain in 'nonary contact member 34 as longas the ter-clockwise direction.

A resilient member or mounted upon the Supp rtm wmemberlfls ,2;

that it engages the pawl 26 to bias the latchmg member 18 to the 18 will-- beactuated b a pin 31 that is mounted uponthe ratc et'member v13 when 4 1;. thereon by means of rivets 33. The contact arm 25.;0fjtl1e contact ,member; .17 and the fva aa m te toiactu e h zsrm .25 in v 'n ua ma nen; (11% s n 1a clqcknis qd es iqn m the fofi position, the-ratchet member 13 is the by i p ntact with. t e an 6,. ca i gi tot m t co e the pin 24, t

member 32 maybebrought into engagement' with the. stationary contactjmember or block '34 whichyis secured to the supporting member '8.- I

tatably. mounted in the ;arm -25 and limits va -farm 1. i esilient m mber 3 which is J securely positioned {between the ll rlo k i e dir tion- The operation of my y wtu tingr h on r ll rr a d 52in t e When ,thecontroller; ham

r ted n asi i w i feails mg the rejection or pin-.31

. Ma a e cloc se direction; This v movement of the pawl 126} causes the -proj cation i .1 bo nterclo wisc' the I lever member '18, thereby actuatin I the. v

. stion and causing the P end: of" projection 'tact me'mberj32 from the contact member j lever arm 18 23 to movejawaylffroni the pino f the contactfmemb'erf 17.1

When the projection engages .l h e reSiIiB P tmemberBfZ. cause the arm 25? and. thefeontactgiinger; 32 to' turn 1 nl'aj counter-clockwise direction until e c ntact. fing'e'r' 32 is. nght. in o 'e'ngag'ement with'thestationa I ber.34.'. .The arm-14 will be actuatedby the s rin 19 throu h arelativel small an is p g g y g drum 3- can be actuated any considerable until further movement ofythe arm 14 is prevented bythebolt' Q" 7 When the contact finger '32 is in engagementwiththe contact member34, a circuit a canyon- 1, actuatingcofl of the switching evice12, solenoid 21 of the elecmeans of a pin 27.

h r :positionshownby solid lines in Fig. 2. :The latching member invention is begun in a, clockwise direction,-

4; Wlll continue to move 1nna i2 ""1 h f in intimate cent'a'ct with Ithe f side of contact mem-J movement.

tromagnetic device 16, stationary contact member 34 and movable contact member 32, to ground. When. this circuit is established, the selenoid 21 of the electromagnetic device l fi is energized, thereby establishing a f magnetic circuit comprising the movable 8*armi; 14,-; the supporting member 8' and the coremember 2la. The movable contact memengagement "with staanm,1 i .engages the core member 21a.

The movement of the ratchet member 13 in a clockwise direction will slightly raise"[ the arm-'14 but the circuit comprising the contact members 32 and 34 will, not be 3 broken.

As soon as-the ratchet member 13 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, one of the teeth of the member 13 will engage the arm 25 and turn it'in a clockwise direction until, the circuit comprising the contact members 32 and 34is broken. Unless the arm 25 moves sufliciently, in a counter.

clockwise direction, to separate the contact .me-mbers. 32-. and 34, ,itis lmpossible for the tooth of the ratchetwheel to 'turnmorethan a relativelyslight distance,"

As soon .as the contact fingers-32 and- 3 1 are-separated, the circuit comprisingthe actuating coil of the circuit-breaker, 12 and .9

the. solenoid-of the, magnetic vdevice116 isde- 1 energized. HHence, thel circuit-breaker; 12", .,.,opcns1 and the arm, 14 :is actuated in. a,

clockwise direction the spring, member i 19. The arm .14 is;limited, in its mo t by 3 its co-actmg' thi 'e rm 2 o'-'w ,h ai p v y con- The arm clockwise. direction until it 1 is fstopped' by f the 'lieadof .tlieboltf20. When the arm 1511' I.

has assumed f' its normal. or inoperative .po

Sitiomfandthemovement of the me 25 has been limited by' the pin '24 engaging the latching member; 23,. the arm 25 is turned .in a clockwise direction about the pin 24, thereby permanently dl SCODIIGGtIIIgIhG con 1- The naaaattunetrm 14 his ciockwise direction may be" made more restricted by adjusting the set screw 35 so as to prc-.

vide av minimum distance that the arm 25 I may be brought toward the'arm 14.

It; is V apparent that the switching device 9 must operate tone-energize the 0011 of the. circuit-breaker 12 before the control distanceina counter-clockwise direction, for, otherwise, the arms 14 and 25 Will serve to lock the ratchet wheel 13 and prevent its fore, to be limited only by the scope of the;

appended claims.

I claim as my invention: l. The combination with a controller and .an electrically operated switching device having an actuating coil, of means actuated by said controller for governing the energization of said coil, said means mechanically preventing said controller from returning to its off position before the opening of said switching device.

2. The combination with a controller and a switching device having an actuating coil, of'means operated by said controller for governing the action of said coil, said means limiting the reverse movement of said controller until said coil is de-energized.

3. The/combination with a controller and a switching device having an actuating coil, of means comprising an electromagnetic device for energizing said coil, said means being actuated by said controller toenergize said coil.

4. The combination with an electrically operated switching device having an actuating coil, of means comprising a contact member for governing the energization of said coil, magnetic means for maintaining said contact memberin its closed position for energizing said coil, and a movable member for actuating said governing means to deenergize said coil.

5. The combination with an electrically operated switching device having an actuating coil, of means comprising a contact member for governing the energization of said coil, magnetic means for actuating said contact member to its closed position, and a movable member for actuating said contact -member to its open position.

6. The combination with a movable member, of a movable arm, means for biasing said arm to a predetermined position, an electromagnetic device for actuating said arm, means com rising a contact member movably inounte upon said arm for opening and closing a circuit, said contact member being actuated by-said movable member, and means governed by said movable memher for limiting the travel of said contact member. i

7 The combination with a rotatable member, of a movable arm, means for biasing said arm to one position, an electromagnetic device for actuating said arm;"'a switching device actuated by said arm, and means coacting with said member for governing the movement of said switching device.

8. The combination with a controller having a rotatable member, of a movable member actuated by said rotatable member, a

movably mounted arm, means for biasing said arm to one position, means for actuating said arm to another position, a contact member mounted upon said arm for opening and closing a circuit, and means comprisin a latching member actuated by said movable member for governing the movement of said contact member.

9. The combination with a controller having a rotatable member, a ratchet member securely mounted upon said rotatable member, a pivotally mounted arm, resilient means for biasing said arm to one position, an electromagnetic device for actuating said arm to another position, and means comprising a contact member pivotally mounted upon said arm for opening and closing a circuit, said contact member being n engagement with said ratchet member upon said device being energized.

10. The combination with a controller having a rotatable member, a ratchet member securely mounted upon said rotatable member, a pivotally mounted arm co-acting with said ratchet member, resilient means for biasing said arm to one pos tion, an electromagnetic device for actuating said arm to another position, and means comprising a contact member pivotally mounted upon said arm for opening and closing a circuit comprising said device.

11. The combination with a controller having .a drum shaft, a ratchet member securely mountedupon said drum shaft, a pivotally mounted arm, resilient means for biasing said arm to one position, an electromagnetic device for actuating said arm to another position, means comprising a contact member pivotally mounted upon said armfor opening and closing a circuit comprising said device, said contact member being in engagement with said ratchet member upon said device. being energized, resilient means for biasing said contact member to one position with relation to said arm, and means comprising a latching member actuated by said ratchet member for govlegrning the movement of said contact mem- 12. The combination with a controlle having a plurality of switches and a switching device having an actuating coil, of means operated by said controller for governing the energization of said coil, said means interlocking with the. controller for effecting the de-energization of said coil prior to the opening of said switches.

13. The combination with a controller having a plurality of switches and a switching device, of means actuated by said controller for closing said device, said means being adapted to restrain said controller upon the reverse movement thereof to insure opening of said switches, said means limitthe opening of said device prior to the opening the reverse movement of said controller 10 ing of any of said switches by said conto a fractional part of a notch unless said troller. device has opened.

5 14. The combination with a controller In testimony whereof, I have hereunto having a plurality of switches and a switchsubscribed my name this 11th day of Feloing device, of means actuated by said conruary 1921. troller for opening, said device prior to the HENRY D. MURDOCK. 

